Refrigerating apparatus



Oct. 4, 1949. s. M. scHwl-:LLER

REFRIGERATING APPARATUS Filed May 28, 1947 llll."I

Patented Oct. 4, 1949 UNITED STATES PATENTl OFFICE REFRIGERATING APPARATUS Sylvester M. Schweller, Dayton, Ohio, assignor to General Motors Corporation, Dayton, Ohio, a corporation of Delaware Application May 28, 1947, Serial No. '751,038

l(Cl. 6211.6)

l" Claims.

. improved arrangement. of a condenser of a refrigerating system, with respect to an airilue =pro vided in a refrigerator cabinet housing system whereby, upon failure of a fan normally employed for circulating air over the condenser and other heat dissipating elements of the system, such Iarrangement will serve as a means to induce a thermo-syphon circulation of air over the condenserso that the refrigerating system may conrtinue to operate to produce refrigeration.

A further object of my inventionis to provide an improved cooling arrangement of a condenser of a refrigerating system associated with a horizontally elongated substantially rectangular shaped refrigerator cabinet, such as anice cream or a frozen food storage cabinet.

In carrying out the foregoing objects it is a still further and more specific object of my invention to provide an air iiue or tunnel beneath ahorizontally elongated refrigerator cabinet and to dispose the condenser ofthe refrigerating system associated with the cabinet; within the flue and in intimate thermal contact with an inclined bottom metal wall of the cabinet, forming the top wall of the flue, whereby this wall will serve as a sec- Ondary heat diSSipatng surface for the condenser.

Further objects and advantages of the present invention will be apparent from the following description, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, wherein a preferred form of the present invention is clearly shown.

In the drawings:

Fig. 1 is a top plan view of an ice cream or frozen food storage refrigerator cabinet having my invention embodied therein;

Fig. 2 is an enlarged vertical sectional view of the refrigerator cabinet taken on the line 2-2 of Fig. 1, showing an air iiue .beneath the cabinet;

Fig. 3 is a sectional view taken on the line 3-3 of Fig. 2, and shows the condenser coil secured to the bottom wall of the refrigerator cabinet; and

Fig. 4 is a fragmentary vertical sectional view taken on .the line 4-4 of Fig. 2 showing the width of the air flue as compared to the length thereof disclosed in Fig. 2.

Referring to the drawing, for illustrating my invention, I have shown in Fig. l thereof a refrigerating apparatus of the type commonly referred tto as an ice cream or frozen food storage refrigerator. These types of refrigerators are rectangular in shape, horizontally elongated, and

of substantially. table height. The refrigerator disclosed in Fig. 1 comprises a cabinet generally represented by the reference character I0 and having metal walls I I forming or enclosing a food storage compartment I2 surrounded by suitable insulating material I4 (see Fig. 2). 'I'he outer cabinet walls II extend horizontally beyond the insulated food storage compartment I2, as at I6, to form or provide,- with one end wall I1 of cabinet I0, amachine compartment I3 disposed-in substantially the same horizontal plane as the food compartment I2 and extending across the Y one end of the cabinet. Food compartment I2 has a metal liner I9 and is provided with suitable access openings normally closed by doorsf 2li. Cabinet end wall I may be removably attached to cabinet I0 so as to provide access to the interior of the machinecompartment I8. In order tto increase the structural strengthr of cabinetl I0 a plurality of angle iron members 22 may be employedwhere necessary. The Iangleiron'members 22 may be supported from or attached to channel iron members or the like23, extending horizontally along the bottom of cabinet I0 at each side thereof. These -channel iron members 23 together with the cabinet walls II, the food com-f partment'bottom wall I1, and the iioor upon which the cabinet rests, indicated by the reference characterv 24, provide means whichV forms an air flue or tunnel 25 beneath the bottom metal Y wall 2-6 of compartment I2, for a purpose to be presently described. The vertical end wall 3I of cabinet I0 opposed to the wall I'I thereof is cut oil' at the compartment bottom wall 26, so as to provide the tunnel 25 with an opening or open end 32 for the ingress of air, as will be more fully explained hereinafter. The exterior met-al :bottom wall 26 of compartment I2 is preferably, although not necessarily, inclined upwardly from the air inlet opening 32 of tunnel 25 toward the machine compartment I8. Suitable blocks 34 may be inserted between the inclined wall 26 of compartment I2 to support4 the compartment from the channel iron members 23 located on each side of the cabinet. End wall II of compartment I8 extends down to the oor level 24 and over the ends of the channel members 23 to close the ue 25 at this point. It will be seen that the flue l25 is of great length as compared to its cross-sectional -area and that the inclined top wall thereof, formed by the exterior metal bottom wall 26 of compartment I 2, serves to make fthe ue of increased cross-section-al area in a direction toward its air outlet end.

A refrigerating system associated with the refrigerator I Il includes an evaporator 36 secured to the exterior surface of the metal liner I9 of food storage compartment I2, for cooling the interior thereof, a combined motor-compressor unit v3l, mounted within the machine compartment I8 in any suitable or desirable manner, and a condenser 38, all connected by suitable conduits in closed circuit relationship. The compressor of the motor-compressor unit 31 withdraws evaporated or gaseous refrigerant from the evaporator 36, through conduit i i, compresses the refrigerant and forwards the compressed refrigerant, through conduit 42, into the condenser 38. Refrigerant cooled and condensed in the condenser 38 ows, through the liquid refrigerant conduit 43, under the control of a suitable expansion valve or restrictor (not shown) into the evaporator coil 36 where it is again evaporated to remove heat from the food storage compartment I2. Any suitable or conventional thermostatic switch (not shown) may be employed for starting and stopping the motor of the motor-compressor unit 31. A motor 46, having a fan 41 mounted on its shaft, is mounted in any suitable manner within machine Compartment I8 and is preferably electrically connected in series with the motor-compressor unit 31, so as to be started in operation or stopped simultaneously with 'starting and stopping of unit 31 under the control of the thermostatic switch. The fan 41 is located within a shroud or the like 48 formed integral with or attached to the cabinet end wall I1. A protective grille or screen 49 may be mounted in the air outlet opening formed in the top portion of cabinet end wall I1.

The condenser 38 preferably comprises a plurality of loops I of conduit extending along and being secured in metal-to-metal contact with the metal bottom wall 26 of the food compartment l2 by suitable metal straps 53. The long flat condenser coil 38 formed by the conduit loops 5I extends over or traverses a substantial area of the food compartment exterior bottom wall 26 and this metallic wall serves as a heat radiating surface, or forms a secondary fin or heat dissipating portion for the condenser 38 to augment its transference of heat to the atmosphere. In fact the entire outer metal wall surface of cabinet I0 augments dissipation of heat from condenser 38 due to these wall surfaces being in contact with the bottom metal wall 26. The metal straps 53 may be bolted or otherwise suitably secured to wall 26.

When the electric circuit is completed to the motor-compressor unit 31 to cause operation of the compressor it is also completed to motor 46 to cause operation of the fan 41. The fan 41 blows air out of the machine compartment I8 through the air outlet opening or screen 49 and creates a suction within the hood or shroud 48. Suction created by the fan 41 causes air to enter the inlet opening or open end 32 of the air flue or tunnel 25. This air ows in a horizontal direction lengthwise of and beneath the cabinet I0, over the food compartment bottom wall 26 and over the condenser 38 secured thereto, so as to cool and condense compressed refrigerant received by the condenser. When the circulating air reaches the machine compartment I8 it flows upwardly therein over the motor-compressor unit 31 and over the fan motor 46 to remove heat from these heat dissipating elements. The air is then forced by the fan outwardly of compartment I8 through the outlet opening or screen 49.

While fan 41 normally induces or circulates air in the manner described I have, by virtue of inclining the bottom wall 26 of the food compartment upwardly from the air flue inlet opening 32, toward the point at which the ue communicates with the machine compartment I8, provided other means for inducing air circulation into and through the ue 25 over the Aheat dissipating elements 38 and 31. The inclination of wall 28, together with locating the air outlet adjacent the top of machine compartment I8, creates a natural draft or theremo-syphon circulation of air into and through the iiue 25. If for any reason the fan motor 46 becomes inoperative a safety factor is provided, since the present arrangement which induces a thermo-syphon circulation of air through the air nue 25 and over the heat dissipating elements, condenser 38 and motor 31 respectively of the refrigerating system, will cause the iiow of suilicient air to permit continued operation of the refrigerating system and prolonged cold storage of contents located in the low temperature food storage compartment. The refrigerating system may not operate at its maximum efficiency so long as `motor 46 and fan 41 remain inoperative, but the prolonged more or less ineiilcient operation of the system is highly desirable until a serviceman can arrive, repair and again place fan 41 in operation. The cost of operating the refrigerating system somewhat less efficiently than normal, due to inoperation offan 41, is not expensive as compared to having spoilage of all the food stored in the refrigerator, which is usually the case in refrigerating systems equipped with thermostatic controls which stop the system when abnormal heating of elements thereof occurs.

By the arrangement described and illustrated various advantages are offered. The location of the air inlet opening of the ue adjacent the floor level insures that the coldest air in the room, in which the refrigerator cabinet is placed, will enter the flue and circulate over the condenser to thus increase the cooling efficiency of the condenser. By arranging the air outlet opening so that it is adjacent the top of the cabinet lpaint on the cabinet walls is not discolored or damaged as a result of heat from the condenser. The location of the air outlet in the uppermost portion of a relatively low cabinet of the type disclosed, as distinguished from a vertically elongated household type refrigerator cabinet, more effectively causes the heat of the condenser to induce the thermo-syphon air circulation heretofore described. Another advantage lies in the fact that air circulated over the condenser, parallel to the length of the coils thereof, more effectively cools and condenses refrigerant therein since it flows in a counter direction with respect to the flow of refrigerant in at least portions of the condenser. Also by securing the condenser in intimate thermal contact with the food storage compartment bottom wall this wall dissipates heat to the circulating air throughout the length of the air iiue.

While the form of embodiment of the invention as herein disclosed, constitutes a preferred form, it is to be understood that other forms might be adopted, as may come within the scope of the claims which follow.

What is claimed is as follows:

l. A refrigerating apparatus comprising in combination, a horizontally elongated cabinet having a plurality-of walls forming an insulated food storage compartment and a machine compartment at one side of said food compartment in substantially the same horizontal plane therewith, a refrigerating system associated with said cabinet including an evaporator for cooling said food compartment, a refrigerant translating unit within said machine compartment, a condenser, and conduit means connecting said evaporator,

said unit and said condenser in closed circuit relation, means forming an air ue beneath said food compartment and communicating at one end thereof with the lower portion of said machine compartment, said condenser being disposed within said flue, said flue having an air inlet opening at the base portion of said cabinet, said machine compartment having an air outlet opening in an upper wall portion thereof, and the exterior bottom wall of said food storage compartment forming the upper wall portion of said iiue and being inclined upwardly in a, direction from said flue inlet opening toward the point of communication of the ue with said machine compartment for inducing circulation of air into and outv of said openings through said flue and over said condenser.

2. A refrigerating apparatus comprising in combination, a cabinet having a plurality of walls forming an insulated food storage compartment and a machine compartment at one side thereof, a refrigerating system associated with said cabinet including an evaporator for cooling said food compartment, a refrigerant translating unit within said machine compartment, a condenser, and conduit means connecting said evaporator, said unit and said condenser in closed circuit relation, means including the exterior metal bottom wall of said food compartment forming an air flue of great length as compared to its cross-sectional area beneath said food compartment and communicating at one end thereof with the lower portion of said machine compartcompartment, a refrigerant translating unit within said machine compartment, a condenser, and

denser being disposed within said flue and sement, said condenser being disposed within said ue and secured in metal-to-metal contact with said food compartment bottom wall, said ilue having an air inlet opening at the base portion of said cabinet, said machine compartment having an air outlet opening in an upper wall portion thereof, and means for inducing circulation of air into and out of said openings through said flue and over said condenser.

3. A refrigerating apparatus comprising in combination, a cabinet having a plurality of -Walls formingl an insulated food storage compartment and a, machine compartment at one side thereof, a refrigerating system associated with said cabinet including an evaporator for cooling said food compartment, a refrigerant translating unit within said machine compartment, a condenser, and conduit means connecting said evaporator, said unit and said condenser in closed circuit relation, means including the exterior metal bottom walls of said food compartment forming an air ue of great length as compared to its cross-sectional area beneath said food compartment and communicating at one end thereof with the lower portion of said machine compartment, said condenser being disposed within said flue and secured in metal-to-metal contact with said food compartment bottom wall, said iiue having an air inlet opening at the base portion of said cabinet, said machine compartment having an air outlet opening in an upper wall portion thereof, and means for inducing circulation of air into and out of said openings through said flue and over said condenser, said last named means including a fan disposed within and located adjacent the air outlet opening of said machine compartment.

4. A refrgerating apparatus comprising in combination, a. cabinet having a plurality of walls forming an insulated food storage compartment and a machine compartment at one side thereof, a refrigerating system associated with said cabinet including an evaporator for cooling said food cured in metal-to-metal contact with said food compartment bottom wall whereby at least the food compartment bottomwall of said cabinet provides a heat radiating surface for said condenser, said :due having an air inlet opening ,at the base portion of said cabinet, said machine compartment having an air outlet opening in an upper\wa1l'portion thereof, and said bottom wall of said food compartment being inclined upward- 1y in a direction from said ue inlet opening toward the point of communication of the flue with said machine compartment for inducing circulation of air into and out of said openings through said flue and over said food compartment bottom wall and the condenser secured thereto.

5. A refrigerating apparatus `comprising in combination, a substantially rectangular horizontally elongated cabinet having a plurality vof walls forming an 'insulated food storage compartment and a machine compartment at one end of said food compartment and in the same horizontal plane therewith, a refrigerating system associated with said cabinet including an evaporator for cooling said food compartment, a refrigerant translating unit within said machine compartment, a condenser, and conduit means connecting said evaporator, said unit and said condenser in closed circuit relation, means including the eX- terior metal bottom wall of said food compartment forming an air ue of great length as compared to its cross-sectional area beneath said food compartment and communicating at one end thereof with the lower portion of said machine compartment, said condenser being disposed within said flue and secured in metal-tometal contact with said food compartment bottom wall, said ue having an air inlet opening at the base portion of the end of said cabinet opposed to said machine compartment end thereof, said machine compartment having an air outlet opening in a vertical wall portion thereof adjacent the top surface of said cabinet, said flueforming means being so constructed and arranged as to provide the ue with increased crosssectional area from its air inlet opening to a point where the ilue communicates with said machine compartment, and means in addition to the shape of the ue for circulating air into and out of said openings through said flue over said food compartment bottom wall and the condenser secured thereto and thence over said unit Within said machine compartment.

6. A refrigerating apparatus comprising in combination, a, substantially rectangular horizontally elongated cabinet having a plurality of walls forming an insulated food storage compartment and a machine compartment at one end of said food compartment and in the same horizontal plane therewith, a refrigerating system associated with said cabinet including an evaporator for cooling said food compartment. a refrigerant translating unit within said machine compartment, a condenser, and conduit means connecting said evaporator, said unit and said condenser in closed circuit relation, means including the exterior metal bottom wall of said food compartment forming'an air flue of great length as compared to its cross-sectional area beneath said food compartment and communicating at one end thereof with the lower portion of said machine compartment, said condenser being disposed within said flue and secured in metal-tometal contact with said food compartment bottom wall, said flue having an air inlet opening at the base portion of the end of said cabinet opposed tosaid machine compartment endI thereof, said machine compartment having an air outlet opening in a vertical wall portion thereof adj acent the top surface of said cabinet, said flue-forming means being so constructed and arranged as to provide the flue with increased cross-sectional area from its air inlet opening to a point where the ue communicates with said machine compartment for inducing a thermo-syphon circulation of air into and out of said openings through said nue to remove heat from said condenser and said unit.

7. A refrigerating apparatus comprising in combination, a substantially rectangular horizontally elongated cabinet having a plurality of walls forming an insulated food storage compartment and a machine compartment at one end of said food compartment and in the same horlzontal plane therewith, a refrigerating system associated with said cabinet including an evaporator for cooling said food compartment, a refrigerant translating unit within said machine compartment, a condenser, and conduit means connecting said evaporator, said unit and said condenser in closed circuit relation, means forming an air ue of great length as compared to its cross-sectional area beneath said food compartment and communicating at one end thereof with the lower portion of said machine compartment, said condenser being disposed within said ilue, said flue having an air inlet opening at the base portion of the vend of said cabinet opposed to said machine compartment end thereof, said machine compartment'having an air outlet opening in a vertical wall portion thereof adjacent the top of said cabinet, said flue-forming means being so constructed and arranged as to provide the ue with increased cross-sectional area from its air inlet opening to a point where the flue communicates with said machine compartment for inducing a thermo-syphon circulation of air into and out of said openings through said :due and over the condenser therein.

8. A refrigerating apparatus comprising in combination, a cabinet, a plurality of insulated walls dividing the interior of said cabinet into a food storage compartment and a machine compartment, a refrigerating system associated with said cabinet including an evaporator for cooling said food compartment, a refrigerant translating device including a first heat dissipating element Within said machine compartment and a second heat dissipating element, conduit means connecting said evaporator and said heat dissipating elements of said device in closed circuit relation, the insulated bottom of said food compartment having a metal covering spaced from the lowermost portion of said cabinet and forming the top wall of an air ue beneath said food compartment, said ilue communicating at one end with said machine compartment, said iiue having an air inlet opening adjacent the base of said cabinet remote from said machine compartment, said machine compartment having an air outlet opening in one wall thereof, said second heat dissipating element extending along said iiue and being secured in intimate therma1 contact with the metal top wall thereof, and means for inducing circulation of air into and out of said openings through said iiue and over said elements.

9. A refrigerating apparatus comprising in combination, a, cabinet, a plurality of insulated walls dividing the interior of said cabinet into a food storagev compartment and a machine compartment, a refrigerating system associated with said cabinet including an evaporator for cooling said food compartment, a refrigerant translating device including a rst heat dissipating element within said machine compartment and a second heat dissipating element, conduit means connecting said evaporator and said heat dissipating elements of said device in closed circuit relation. the insulated bottom of said food compartment having a metal covering spaced from the lowermost portion of said cabinet and forming the top wall of an air flue beneath said food compartment, said ilue communicating at one end with said machine compartment, said flue having an air inlet opening adjacent the base of said cabinet remote from said machine compartment, said machine compartmentvhaving an air outlet opening in one wall thereof, said second heat disslpating element extending along said iiue and being secured in intimate thermal contact with the metal top wall thereof, and the top wall of said flue being inclined upwardly in a direction from said ue inlet opening toward the point of communication of the iiue with said machine compartment for inducing a thermo-Siphon circulation of air into and out of said openings through said iiue and over said elements.

10. A refrigerating apparatus comprising in combination, a cabinet, a plurality of insulated walls dividing the interior of said cabinet into a food storage compartment and a machine compartment, a refrigerating system associated with said cabinet including an evaporator for cooling said food compartment, a refrigerant translating device including a motor-compressor unit within said machine compartment and a condenser, conduit means connecting said evaporator, said unit and said condenser in closed circuit relation, said condenser including a heat dissipating refrigerant conducting portion and a secondary heat dissipating plate-like portion in intimate thermal contact therewith, said condenser being spaced from the lowermost part of said cabinet and having its plate-like portion covering the insulated bottom wall of said food compartment to provide the top wall of a flue beneath said food compartment, said iiue communicating at one end with said machine compartment and having an air inlet opening adjacent the base of said cabinet remote from said machine compartment, said machine compartment having an air outlet opening in a wall thereof, and means for inducing circulation of air into and out of said openings through said flue and over said condenser.

SYLVESTER. M. SCHWELIER.

REFERENCES CITED UNITED STATES PATENTS Name Date Jordan et al. Sept. 8, 1942 Number 

